GMD 4 Management Plan

Current GMD 4 Management Program (a pdf file)

Because the district is required to annually review and either re-adopt or amend its Management Program, the Board is almost continuously working on it. If there are concerns over any aspect of the current plan, contact any board or staff member.

The process is: 1) Board adoption of a preliminary Management Program; 2) Submission to the Chief Engineer for approval; 3) Conduct of a local public hearing for membership comment; 4) If public comment is supportive, the board adopts the program and it becomes effective. If public comment is opposed the board can either adopt the program over the opposition, or, make changes based on the public comment. If the changes are substantive, the program must go back to the chief engineer. The Management Program action date (either re-adoption or amendment) is normally done in November.

The board is currently working 7 new issues for eventual inclusion into the revised Management Program. These are:

Installing the GMD 4 Management Program as the expression of "public interest" for NW Kansas GMD 4 members;

The viability of obtaining variable assessment rates for both land assessments and water user charges;

A possible economic development component for processing future water rights;

A public water rights ownership program to promote reduced water use and simultaneously increased economic returns;

A possible water rights allocation regulation for irrigation in high priority areas;

The limitation of impairment complaints in active management areas; and

additional restrictions on adding acres to existing water rights.

These issues will continue to be explored by the board over the coming months. If you have comments or questions on any of these issues, or if there are others that need consideration, let the GMD know.